Thurrock 2-1 Aveley

From Ship Lane

Ryman One North

By Dan Thurogood

 

A FAMILIAR face came back to haunt his old club as a late, late winner secured the points for Thurrock against fierce rivals Aveley.

Danny Francis's late goal for title-chasing Fleet handed them their second injury-time victory in as many matches after Petrit Elbi had looked as though his effort would be enough to secure a point for the visitors.

But it proved not to be the case, as Francis struck. A corner in stoppage-time was not properly cleared and a ball back in was knocked down for the unmarked Francis.

His scissor kick found the bottom corner, much to the delight of the home side’s manager Mark Stimson.

“It was another late winner today but the match could have gone either way at 1-1,” he said. “Unfortunately we’ve picked up a couple of injuries and I feel that having to make the changes at half-time disrupted our rhythm.

“That win today takes us to 50 points from 21 matches so I’m delighted with our form this season.”

The match started quickly and it was the hosts who took the lead. Millers midfielder Billy Holland was adjudged to have tripped Joe Christou by referee Gary Jerden and Jordan Clark duly converted.

Aveley started to throw more men forward in the second-half to claw back an equaliser but it was Thurrock who looked more until Petrit Elbi took control.

A scramble from a corner fell to him in the six-yard box and his scissor kick flew past Rhys Madden to equalise.

Both sides threw men forward in search of the winner, with the game increasingly stretched with the final ball letting both teams down.

Aveley substitute Alex Teniola hit the post in the closing stages and Fleet substitute Francis missed from six yards out after slipping inside the box before his finish right at the death.

 

Thurrock: Madden, Morgan, Duncan, Toner, Sutton, Clark (Francis), Christou, Spence (Orth), Goode, Wall, Cowley (Winn)

Aveley: Marrable, Preston, Seymour, Baker, Oseyemi, Edwards, Nash (Harrison), Holland, Elbi (Deen), Fallah (Teniola), Allarakhia